Your diploma may be framed in your office as a symbol of pride. Your academic transcript, on the other hand, is your signal to the professional and academic world that your degree is official.
So, when do you need a transcript? And what’s the process for ordering one?
University of Phoenix Registrar and Vice President of Student Services Audra McQuarie is here to help you navigate the world of official academic transcripts, including why they matter and how to get one if you need it.
A transcript, while nice to have for your personal records, is really more relevant in the professional world and the academic one. Most academic institutions and certain employers will request a copy of your transcript to verify your education meets the job or advanced degree requirements. Transcripts, which include your GPA, can also be helpful in distinguishing one applicant from another.
Your transcript is your official signal to professional organizations that you did what you set out to do. This critical document offers proof of the degree you now hold, the classes you took, the dates you attended and the grades you earned.
Registrar and Vice President of Student Services
Pro tip: McQuarie recommends logging in to your student portal and taking a look at your electronic, unofficial transcript before ordering an official transcript. That way, you can make sure your degree and all grades have been posted to your record.
It’s worth noting that most schools, licensing bodies, scholarship/fellowship organizations and employers will not accept a transcript if it has been opened or if it has come directly from you. Instead, you’ll need to place the order electronically and have it sent directly to the interested party. This also ensures timeliness: Many institutions and employers want the most recent and up-to-date document available.
There are instances when ordering one for yourself might be a benefit. You might, for example, want a personal copy of your transcript if you are employed and want to proactively show it to your employer for informative purposes.
“It could be kind of a ‘See, that degree you wanted me to get? It’s done’ kind of a thing,” McQuarie says.
A photocopy of a transcript, meanwhile, should never be presented for any official or formal purpose.
As a large institution serving thousands of students online, University of Phoenix receives many transcript requests!
“We have anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 transcripts ordered per month,” McQuarie says, noting that the University’s transcript ordering system is facilitated by the National Student Clearinghouse. “By any standard, that’s a pretty high volume.”
You can request an electronic transcript, which is the most efficient method. For those who prefer paper or can’t accommodate electronic delivery, you can pay an additional fee for a rush paper transcript.
Students can order transcripts 24/7 in one of two ways:
A fee of $15 (plus applicable state tax) per official transcript is applied. The fee is payable only by credit or debit card.
National Student Clearinghouse processes the payment and sends the order to University of Phoenix for fulfillment. For an electronic request, a PDF of your transcript can be delivered within minutes. For paper transcript requests, delivery depends on whether you request expedited or standard shipping.
You can track your order status every step of the way.
That’s it. Pretty straightforward and simple.
